Francis



(No Model.)

1:". 0. REED. WIRE STRBTGHBR.

No. 444,075. Patented Jan. 6, 1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT AEEICE.

FRANCIS O. REED, OF PARIS, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO J. D. WILLIAMS, OF SAME PLACE WIRE-STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.444,075, dated January 6, 1891.

' Application filed May 13, 1890. Serial No. 351,681. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS O. REED, a citizen of the United States, residing at Paris, in the county of Lamar and State ot' Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vire-Stretchers, ot which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to wire stretchers, and has reference more particularly to that class of devices which are adapted to be applied to and removed from the wires at will. In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of my improved device when used merely for the purpose of stretching or tightening the wires of a fence; Fig. 2, a plan view of the same, illustrating the positions the parts occupy preparatory to bringing the ends of a broken wire together for splicing; and Fig. 3, a view illustrating the stretcher thrown around into a dierent position and the ends of the wires brought into proper relation for splicing. I

A indicates a bar or lever having its forward end notched, as at a, to facilitate the withdrawal ot' staples,nails, and the like, and having also near its forward end, upon its rear face,a laterally-projecting arm b, which is adapted to engage with the post during the stretching operation.

B and O indicate, respectively, hooks, which are hinged or pivoted to the upper face of the bar or handle A, as shown in all the tigures, the prongs of the hooks projecting toward one and the same face of the bar.

hen it is desired Inerely to stretch the wire, the arm Z) is placed behind the post and the wire hooked upon the hook B. Now by moving the bar or handle A in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. l it is evident that the wire D will be stretched and tightened, the lever or handle A swinging or moving upon the arm b as a fulcrum.

Then it is desired to splice the ends of two wires, the lever and hooks will be arranged as represented in Fig. 2. Vhen the parts are in this position and the handle or lever A is swung around in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2, the hooks will assume a substantially parallel position, and their claws or hooked ends will be brought considerably closer together than when they are applied in the manner shown in Fig. 2. It is of course clear that as the ends or claws of the hooks are thus brought toward each other the ends of the wires E F will also be brought closer together and arranged to overlap or ext-end beyond each other according to the extent of movement of the lever.

The device herein shown and described is simple and cheap and is found to work well in practice. lVhen used for splicing, the arm Z will not come into operation.

It will be observed that the hooks B G have their pivots arranged so close together as to prevent crossing when the lever is thrown around to perform the stretching operation.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is-V A wire-stretcher comprising the rigid bar A, hooks B and O, pivoted to the bar, and a laterally-projecting arm b, all substantially as shown.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANCIS O. REED.

Witnesses:

H. L. EwINe, J. D. WILLIAMS. 

